Coal Tit

The Coal Tit is a small tit, in fact the smallest European tit, and could be confused with the almost
indistinguishable Marsh Tit and Willow Tit if it was not for the white patch on
the nape. While it behaves like a Blue Tit,
there is no blue in its plumage.

The upperparts are a olive-grey, the underparts buff coloured. The
crown and large bib are black, while the cheeks and nape are white. There
are also two white wing bars on each wing - this feature separates it from
the Marsh and Willow Tits if the nape is not visible. The legs are
blue-grey.

Juveniles are browner above, and the underparts, cheeks, nape and wing
bars are more yellow.

Coal Tit

Scientific Name

Periparus ater

Length

11.5 cm (4½")

Wing Span

17-21 cm (7-8")

Weight

8-10 g (¼-½ oz)

Breeding Pairs

610000

Present

All Year

Status

Green

Voice

The high pitch song of the Coal Tit, a repetitive "pee-chew", is similar to
that of the Great Tits but faster.

Feeding

Insects, beech mast and conifer seeds are among the Coal Tit's natural diet.

In the garden,
they prefer black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts and occasionally
suet.

When food is plentiful they hoard it by hiding it all over the place so that
they food for later when times are harder. Unfortunately, the Coal Tit's memory
is not as great as its ingenuity in hiding places and you will often find
forgotten sunflower seeds germinating in the most unlikely places!

Great Tits can sometimes be seen watching a Coal Tit stashing away its seed
and then go and raid it.

Nesting

Coal Tits will nest in hollows in trees or in mouse holes. The nest is
similar to that of the Blue Tit (i.e. made from moss, wool, dead leaves
and spiders' webs) except that it is moss-lined.

The Coal Tit's small (15 mm by 12 mm) eggs are smooth and glossy, and white
with reddish-brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After
the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.

Breeding Starts

Clutches

Eggs

Incubation (days)

Fledge (days)

mid-April

1-2

7-12

14-16

16-19

Movements

Coal Tits are resident and mainly sedentary, though a few Continental birds
do winter here, especially in the south east.

In the winter, Coal Tits often join flocks of mixed Tits in woodlands.

Conservation

Harsh winters and poor seed crops can lead to the deaths of many of these
small birds, but recent warmer winters and increased garden feeding have
helped the population to increase slightly.